Friday, December 28, 2018

Believe it or not, this spruce tree in my neighbor's yard was tall and straight until last spring, when a severe
windstorm followed by a heavy spring snow bowed it into this shape. It could easily
have snapped, but instead the tree bent. I imagine it will eventually begin to straighten and grown toward the sun. And thrive.

I think we all face storms and heavy loads, and sometimes something has to give. But when we bend instead of break, we are able to weather the hardship. Maybe even thrive.

Thursday, October 4, 2018

Autumn is my favorite palette. There's something warm and cozy and homey about the reds and oranges and golds of autumn. Did you know that the colors are always there in the leaves, but we can't see them because the green chlorophyll covers them up? Then in the autumn they lose their chlorophyll and fall from the tree in a blaze of glory.

One of the things I love about spending time in Arizona is that autumn last much longer than in Anchorage. Many years, the birches are already turning gold and shedding their leaves by August. But in Arizona high country, the show is just beginning.

I'm still getting fresh tomatoes and zucchini from the garden, but it's slowing down. The pumpkins are turning orange. We have some oversized squash that got away from us. I want to put them on the porch, but hubby says they'd just be an invitation to the javelina, and I don't want to attract them to my pot of mums. So they're on the counter, making a statement. Specifically "See what happens when you let zucchini go wild?"

In the middle of celebrating fall, I'm also anticipating the holidays, partly because I have a new book coming out. It's one of the Heartwarming Christmas Town stories, called A Gift Horse. Release date is Oct. 9th, and there will be some fun activities and prizes coming up so check out the invitations below and plan to join us on Facebook, There's also a new giveaway on the Giveaways tab on this blog starting on the 8th.

Friday, September 21, 2018

My newest cover is here!

An Alaskan Proposal comes out on January 1st, 2019 and is available for preorder. It's about a fashionista who suddenly finds herself in desparate need of outdoor skills. She turns for help to a survival instructor who is less than impressed with city girls in general and Sabrina in particular. But his attitude evolves.

Two dogs play a big role in the story. Talkeetna, Leith's german shepherd, falls madly in love with a little terrier that Sabrina rescues. If you look closely, you can see them there, silhouletted against the tent. I've always wanted a dog on a book cover, and now I have two. Thanks, Harlequin Art Department.

Monday, August 20, 2018

I'm getting excited about my upcoming book, A Gift Horse, part of the 12 Days of Heartwarming Christmas series by twelve different Heartwarming authors.In this story, Luke Mueller had been a designer of kinetic wind scupltures that generate electricity, and had started a company along with his fiance and his best friend. Only when all was said and done, the best friend and fiance ended up married to each other and in charge of the company, and Luke was out. That's when he moved to Christmas Town and started a whole new life.I'm fascinated withe the concept of wind sculptures, they way they're everchanging, according to how the wind blows. I'd love to have a sculpture like this at my house. Would you?

*****

A Gift Horse comes out October 9th, and we'll be celebrating the release with a Facebook Party with lots of giveaways. If you love Christmas, you'll want to become part of the Christmas Town Group on Facebook. You can preorder from these online store: